Boot or shoe



July 22, 1924. f 1,502,087

J. BUNNS Boo'r onsuoE Filed Feb. 8, 1924 Patented July 22, 1924.

A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULI'US BUN'NS, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

Boor on sI-ron.

Application filed February Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusettafhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boots and shoes and more particularly to shoes of the sport tlassn` and for persons having tender feet.

An object of the invention is to produce a shoe havingr cushioning means in the bottom thereof, and which is especially arranged to afford a yielding tread to that portion of the foot at the metatarsal arch.

A further object of the invention is to produce a cushioning means for boots and shoes which is of simple and durable structure, and which preferably comprises a plurality of units made up of a plurality of springs mounted between endless bands which are preferably of fairly stout spring metal.`

Another object of the invention is to so construct the shoe bottom that an appreciable cavity is formed therein for the reception of the cushionino` means, and to provide an approximately air and moisture proof chamber, whereby the springs are protected against rust, and additional cushioning effects are obtained. f

lt is also an object of/this invention to eliminate the well known shoe filler andlv substitute therefor a lspring cushioning means of novel structure and which may act iny conjunction with an approximately tight chamber in which said springs' are located; and which forms an efficient pneumatic cushion.

It is not known that springs arranged as shown and described herein, have ever been used in conjunction with pneumatic cushion ing means.

It willbe understood that claim is not made that a perfectly air tight chamber is formedv but as nearly so as the vmaterials and structure of the shoe permits, and while a perfectly tight chamber is very desirableeit has been found that an approximately tight chamber serves efficiently.

The i invention further consists in certain novelV features of construction and arrangement which will be fully understood 8, 19:24. Serial No. 691,491.

from the description of the drawings and the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings:

Figure l represents a side elevation of a shoe partially broken away to indicate or expose the location of the improved parts.

Figure 2, an underside view of Figure l.

the sole being broken away to .expose the parts beneath.

Figure 3 an enlarged view taken on the line 3 3.

Figure 4 a top plan view of an end of one of the units see-n lin Figure 2.

Figure 5.a view of one of the units as y seen in Figure 3 as 1t would appear before being assembled with the shoe.

Like characters represent` likek artsr throughout the several figures of the rawing.

Referring to the drawings:

The drawings herewith represent the invention as applied to a ladys welt shoe, but it will be understood that it is not the intention to limit it to that particular use as it may be applied to various styles, makes and uses. c

The shoe 10, in the present instance is of the well known welt construction, having an inner sole 1l, welt 12, and outer sole 13. The new member 14C, is introduced to deepen the chamber or cavity 15, which is usual in shoes of this type, and which usually contains a filler of one sort or another Vwhich thev present invention elimina-tes, c

As it is desirable in the present instance, to form as nearly a perfect water and air tight chamber as possible, a coating, of water proof cement or preferably enamel cloth, 16, 1701 both, is inserted between the welt 12 and member 14 'and said member la and outer-sole 13 to ther^by form tight jpints.

In a welt shoe, as before explained, a cavity 15 is formed by reason of the assembly of ther welt 12 and the channel lips of the inner sole 11, into which a filler of some sort is placed.

As it is an object of the invention to eliminate the usual filler and to supply a yielding tread surface for the foot. this cavity or chamber 15, has been made slightly deeper by the addition of the member 14, to receive they several units 20.

Preferably these units are composed of a fairly stiff spring metal endless band 2l` crimped at 22 at the sides thereof and adapted to have the springs 23 mounted between the top and bottom portions as seen in Figure 5 ci the drawings.

rubberized cloth 27 between it and the inner sole 1l, to thereby prevent the passage of moisture from the foot of the wearer to the chamber l5. V

The arrangement of the several' units shown in Figure 2 is one that is of particu? lar advantage to persons troubled with tenderness at, or in the vicinity of the metatarsal arch, theunits 30 and 31 being arranged in approximately the position the said arch would occupy when the toot is in fthe shoe as indicated by the dotted line M. A.-M. A.

It will be understood however that this arrangement may be changed to suit individual cases, as ino-re or less units may be used, or individual or separate springs used as indicated at 32, 32 in Figure 2. When separate springs are used, they will be supplied with metallic top and bottoni plate 33 and 34 as shown in the heel portion of Figure l, and which may be secured in the shoe in any suitable manner.

Having described the invention I claim:

l. A resilient foot tread for boots and slices, comprising an approximately air tight chamber formed between the inner and outer soles of a shoe; inner and outer soles between which said chamber is formed; and a. plurality of spring units in said chamber, said units comprising spring bands arranged to form a narrow hollow oblong between the long sides of which reinforcing springs are mounted.

2. A resilient foot tread for boots and shoes, comprising` a plurality of endless spring bands bent to form a loop having two long flat sides ;v an outer sole and an inner sole; a chamber between Vsaid soles Vin which said bandsV are secured; means to secure said bands between said soles; and reinforcing springs intermediate said sides and secured thereto. l

3. A shoe having an inner and outer sole and a welt; a meinber interposed between said welt and said outer sole and arranged to provide a chamber between said soles; a plurality of spring metal frames each adapted to support and be reinforced by a plurality of other springs; and a plurality ot springs carried Vby each or saidfframes and adapted to coact with said'frames to form a resilient foot tread ina slice.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass., this 5th day/'ot' lilarch, 1924.

JULIUS BUNNS. 

